AOC's Democratic primary rival says she has been absent from her NY district, just wants fame

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Democratic primary opponent alleges that the far-left member of "The Squad" has been absent from her New York district and is only focusing on making herself famous. 

"AOC is absent on community," challenger Marty Dolan said on the Thursday edition of the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. "She's not around. She's absent on crime. She's not around. She's off doing things that are making her famous."

Dolan is challenging Ocasio-Cortez in the upcoming primary race that will take place June 25. His campaign website describes him as an experienced strategist, inventor and financial adviser. 

He said New Yorkers in the 14th district are concerned about crime, illegal immigration and inflation. 

"We've had some terrible crime in the last couple of weeks," Dolan said. "We had two policemen shot at point blank range. We've had two 13-year-olds attacked with a machete in a park."

An Ecuadorian illegal alien was arrested earlier this week for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at Kissena Park in Queens.

"Inflation of course....is coming from these runaway social programs that are creating this massive government deficit," Dolan also said. 

He said that small businesses are struggling in the Big Apple. He was recently endorsed by a conservative small business group, which has spent roughly $100,000 going after Ocasio-Cortez, including the use of billboards in Manhattan's Times Square.

“Hey AOC!” one billboard reads. “Time to pack it up. Vote Democrat Martin Dolan now!”

Another billboard accuses Ocasio-Cortez of ignoring “rising crime,” and “illegal immigration chaos."

Ocasio-Cortez responded to the billboards on the social media platform, X, saying she puts people first. 

"Billionaires and big money continue to pour tens of millions of dollars against me cycle after cycle," she wrote. "Yet we win. Why? Because in my entire time in Congress, I refuse to take a dime from corporate lobbyists."

Some issues that Dolan is running on include refunding the police, immigration and asylum reform and creating local and well paid jobs that don't require a college degree.

He said that his appeal to voters in the 14th district is that he is not a radical and New Yorkers are sick of radicals like Ocasio-Cortez.

"I think people just had enough of radicalism," he said. "They're just completely fed up with it."